Hoeven Statement on Congress Passing the 2016 Budget Report
WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the Conference Report to the 2016 Congressional budget, which the House passed last week:
“Today, the Senate passed a compromise budget resolution blending the Senate’s and the House’s budget resolution for 2016. The measure is a responsible plan that balances the nation’s budget in 10 years without raising taxes. This is essential because we owe it to our children and future generations to balance our budget and reduce the nation’s debt.
“By contrast, President Obama’s budget increases taxes by $1.8 trillion, and never balances at any point in the future. The Obama budget also increases the deficit to more than $800 billion by 2025, and adds $6 trillion to the nation’s debt. It’s the wrong budget for the nation.
“The 2016 budget that Congress passed today also strengthens our military in the face of challenges at home and abroad. We owe our men and women in uniform and their families a tremendous debt of gratitude for all they do, and that means we need to give them the support they need to defend our country.
“Importantly for North Dakota, this budget recognizes the savings in the farm bill passed last year and continues strong support for our farmers and ranchers. Finally, the Senate budget protects Social Security and extends the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund to protect our seniors.
“Our budget holds the line on spending and strikes a balance on funding national priorities, like defense and safety net programs for our seniors and those in need. It protects Americans from tax increases, reduces the debt and supports stronger economic growth.”
The budget report includes a number of amendments offered by Senator Hoeven, including the:
- Nuclear Force Improvement Program: To support the nation’s nuclear triad, the Senate approved Hoeven’s Nuclear Force Improvement Program (NFIP) amendment.
- Nuclear-Capable Cruise Missile: This amendment builds on the senator’s work to support the development of a nuclear-capable cruise missile, including programs at the Defense Department and the National Nuclear Security Administration.
- Veterans Access to Community Care Act: Many veterans in rural states like North Dakota live far from a full-service medical facility. This measure, introduced by Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and cosponsored by Hoeven, allows veterans to access health care services in their local community if they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility that can provide the care a veteran requires.
- FBI-DEA Colocation Amendment: To help law enforcement work more effectively together and reduce costs in fighting crime in western North Dakota, this measure supports the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) colocating in a shared facility.
- Small Business Development Centers: This amendment would support aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing technical assistance through the reauthorization of Small Business Development Centers.
Additional detail about Senator Hoeven’s amendments can be found here.
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